Good Sounding, Inexpensive Laminate Guitar

[maxtheaxe]

You should look at Musician's Friend SDOTD running right now. $479.00 for a nice, all-solid MIC LS-16 Yamaha with ebony board & bridge, Englemann top, EIR back & sides...really great deal, cheaper than many laminates. You might want to swap the saddle for bone or Tusq, but that's easy.

[JackB1]

Originally Posted by maxtheaxe

You should look at Musician's Friend SDOTD running right now. $479.00 for a nice, all-solid MIC LS-16 Yamaha with ebony board & bridge, Englemann top, EIR back & sides...really great deal, cheaper than many laminates. You might want to swap the saddle for bone or Tusq, but that's easy.

Thanks! That one is too good to pass up.

[Br1ck]

Originally Posted by ripdotcom

I have been camping 30 days this year and so far i have taken my 1972 0-16NY, 00-18V, OM-18V and a couple others. Why not play something you enjoy most.

I wouldnt worry about a good laminate, i would just get a less expensive all solid wood scalloped braced guitar like recording king or blueridge, hell the blueridge guitars have so much finish on them I doubt the elements affect them.

You know, I'm beginning to come around to this way of thinking. It helps that my guitars are all battle scarred for the most part. I take a mandolin camping these days for the most part because of size. I've always taken my cheapie beater and missed the tone of my good ones.

[lapetrarca]

Yamaha has so many models, at so many price points, you're bound to find something you like......case closed.

[Bax Burgess]

Originally Posted by salsarev

I have no need for a "beater" or travel guitar but I ordered an Orangewood Manhattan today. It's their all-laminated dread. There was a review on Acoustic Owners FB page that convinced me to try it. It cost me $112.50 delivered (use code:FINDYOURGUITAR10 to get 10% off). It will be here this week. I'll post impressions when it arrives.

And introduce a new thread with your observations. Orangewood sounds like a good group, so even though an inexpensive laminate is not currently on my radar, I am and will remain a comparison info junkie.

[6L6]

Used Taylor 110/114/210/214.

[tonyg]

Based on a review of it on YouTube (Acoustic Letter), I got a Yamaha F325D for the exact same reason you want an alleged laminate guitar. I had the action lowered and put new strings on it, (Martin Monels custom light), and I'm VERY happy with it. $159 with a hardshell case.

[RP]

Originally Posted by PorkPieGuy

Yamaha FG-335 is the absolute best laminated guitar I've ever played for the price, hands down.

Originally Posted by lapetrarca

Yamaha has so many models, at so many price points, you're bound to find something you like......case closed.

I'm partial to the LL6, but I agree that the discussion could begin and end with some Yamaha model....

[rpe1]

Originally Posted by PorkPieGuy

Yamaha FG-335 is the absolute best laminated guitar I've ever played for the price, hands down.

Ditto for my FG-340-II.

[Dreadfulnaught]

Art & Lutherie Wild Cherry.

I think you are looking for a Beer guitar, one that plays acceptably but if someone spilled beer down the soundhole, you’d be angry but not homicidal. I use my C.F. Mountain ooo-18 for that. Marlboro points guitars are good for that but some are going up in price. I don’t know why.

[Steve DeRosa]

Originally Posted by Nctom

Look at one of the Godin line, Seagull or Simon & Patrick, for a low priced but good sounding guitar.

Their entry-level line is Art & Luthierie, made to the usual Godin fit/finish/playability standards but with simpler trim and woods. Although all their current models have solid tops TMK, the earlier all-laminated versions are fine-sounding/playing guitars that I've seen going for as little as $75 in excellent condition - check your local CL or Reverb...

[JackB1]

Originally Posted by lapetrarca

Yamaha has so many models, at so many price points, you're bound to find something you like......case closed.

Yes but you have to be OK with the smaller nut size. I don't mind it so much, but find it a little weird sometimes switching back and forth to a 3/4" nut size guitar. Ideally my 2nd guitar would feel as much like my main guitar as possible.

[rokdog49]

Originally Posted by 6L6

Used Taylor 110/114/210/214.

I second this.
Any of these can be had used for $250-$350 and they are excellent guitars, especially the 114.

[poppop]

Another vote for a Jasmine, particularly the S34C model. Might need truss rod adjusted, and/or saddle sanded down some. But after that, it's well worth the $100.

[ollaimh]

yamahas across the board. i have a beat yamaha fg 180-red label, nippon gakki that looks like it was hung over a wood stove for decades, while in a bag of rice, with blue grass felt patches stapled to the top, which may be holding it together, but it's a poor man's cannon. cost me $40. canadian . fretts needed a little dressing cost another $20. f*****g eh, can't beat that for a beach guitar.

but the new laminate yamahas are also great guitar for under $400 canadian. less if second hand.

and multiple models in between.

i found a decent condition 1972 white label fg 300 recently. it is also a great guitar. almost origonal. it has a top doctor which i may leave because it sounds good. a high end beach guitar for those days you want to impress people at the bluegrass campfire. plays great great tone.